With help from van, RESPECT continues work helping homeless in New Haven with jobs

By Esteban L. Hernandez

Published 5:54 pm, Thursday, September 21, 2017

Photo: Esteban L. Hernandez / Hearst

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Ben Morrill, 45, (left) and Santos Perez, 44, stand inside the Liberty Community Services offices on Thursday, Sept. 21, in New Haven. Morrill and Perez are both participating in a program providing them with temporary work opportunities. less

Ben Morrill, 45, (left) and Santos Perez, 44, stand inside the Liberty Community Services offices on Thursday, Sept. 21, in New Haven. Morrill and Perez are both participating in a program providing them with ... more

Photo: Esteban L. Hernandez / Hearst

With help from van, RESPECT continues work helping homeless in New Haven with jobs

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NEW HAVEN — Santos Perez has been here before. Even though he’s homeless, he hasn’t lost his enthusiasm for looking forward to something new, something positive.

Perez, 44, of Puerto Rico, lost his job and became homeless in 2012. He lives at Columbus House, a shelter that provides services for the homeless, but he said he’s been trying to keep his head up. He’s working, thanks to a new program at Liberty Community Services, a local nonprofit providing numerous services for homeless residents in New Haven region.

Project RESPECT is the likely reason Perez — despite having endured a recent incident that left him without any of his legal documents — can hold up his head a little easier.

“I meet so many new people that also need help, that they’re going through certain circumstances in their life and I could give them reference to go to Liberty,” Perez said. “

The comment is music to the ears of RESPECT Program Director Siliva Moscariello. Started in January at Liberty, RESPECT provides temporary job opportunities for homeless residents. The program is funded by a grant from Alexion Pharmaceuticals—which helps RESPECT pay worker’s wages—and support from the city . Alexion representatives could not be reached for comment.

The organization got another boost this week, after a resolution filed under unanimous consent was passed Monday by the Board of Alders to allow the city to donate a van. The decision formally allows the city to transfer the van’s ownership to Liberty Community Services.

The van will be used for the RESPECT Work program at Liberty Community Services, with the van providing transportation to and from job sites for program participants.

City Chief Administrative Officers Michael Carter requested a transfer of the vehicle’s title. Carter formally asked the Board of Alders in letter dated Sept. 11 to approve a transfer of ownership of the 1996 Ford van. The van was formerly used by the city’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Trees, but is no longer usable by the department. The van has no, “residual value” on Kelly Blue Book or RedBook, according to Carter’s letter.

“We are delighted to partner with this initiative which will help people get back on their feet through gainful employment,” Carter said in the letter. “Income and employment are an essential part of ending homelessness and we know that this Board fully support efforts on this front.”

Moscariello said the goal of the program is to become self-sufficient. Moscariello said program participants register with a local temporary work agency, Diversified Employment, and are then placed, usually in low-skill labor jobs. Funding restrictions mean there’s a limit to the number of days participants can work, making a maximum of $600 during their time in the program.

“What our hope is that while people are engaged with us is, No. 1 , they don’t have to panhandle, to remove them from having to do that, and also that they get some cash in pocket to maybe resolve some immediate problems,” Moscariello said.

Perez said he usually uses his earnings to purchase basic necessities: Underwear, deodorant, socks, and to pay his phone bill.

In addition to work experience, participants develop work references. Moscariello said participants are also referred to job-placement programs.

Jim Pettinelli, who was recently named executive director for Liberty Community Services, said the organization helps people find, “their next step.”

The nonprofit organization provides housing to about 200 clients and serves more than 1,000 Greater New Haven residents annually, according a brochure.

“Our primary focus is on housing and health and really working with people, finding options, so that they can move from experiencing homelessness to permanent housing, with a job, with a connection to health care,” Pettinelli said.

Ben Morrill, 45, who usually travels from New Haven to Baltimore, where he participates in medical research to earn extra cash, said he decided to stay in the city at a shelter for the time being to find part-time work. Morrill now works at the Liberty offices.

“Thank you, for Sunrise…helping me, you do a great job,” Morrill said .

Morrill participated in RESPECT after hearing about it through another Liberty program, Sunrise Cafe, which provides breakfast for homeless residents. This is exactly the kind of thing Moscariello encourages. Both programs provide an opportunity to socialize, but it reminds folks that their struggle isn’t solitary.

“That’s the purpose of the program,” Moscariello said. “When you hear the story—(Morrill) had never told me that before—that’s our dream always, is that Sunrise fulfills that function. It’s the networking, it’s the finding out, it’s the resource connection.”